Blundell Park | Grimsby Town FC | Football Ground Guide Football Ground Guide Address: Blundell Park, Cleethorpes, DN35 7PY Telephone: 01472 605 050 Pitch Size: 111 x 75 yards Pitch Type: Grass Home Kit: Black and White Away Kit: All Red View Of Blundell Park From Nearby Railway Bridge Findus Stand A Closer Look At The Main Stand Pontoon Stand WHAT IS BLUNDELL PARK LIKE? At one side of the ground is the Findus Stand, which is the tallest stand and is two tiered and covered. The lower tier, which was originally terracing, has only seven rows of seating whilst the upper tier is much larger. However this stand only runs half the length of the pitch, straddling the half way line. Running in-between the two tiers is a row of executive boxes. Opposite is the old Main Stand, which is small covered all seated stand and has a large number of supporting pillars running across the front of it. Part of this stand dates back to 1901. This possibly makes it one of the oldest surviving stands in the country.

Both ends are small covered affairs. The Pontoon Stand is the traditional home end, whilst the away fans are housed in the Osmond Stand opposite. The corner between this stand and the Main Stand is also filled, as the stands are joined at this point, though this is unused for supporters. For big games the Club increases the capacity of the ground by 500 by installing blocks of temporary seating in the open corners of the ground. There is a Police Control box located on one side of the Main Stand. It is interesting to note that the Pontoon Stand gets it name from the fish docks in Grimsby and as at one time many of the crowd would have worked on 'the pontoon', then it is an apt name. Grimsby fans still identify with their town's fishing heritage, with the chant 'We only sing when we're fishing!' NEW STADIUM The Club have announced their intention leave Blundell Park and move to a new stadium, to be built at Peaks Parkway.

The site at Peaks Parkway, which is located two miles South of Grimsby (and around 2.5 miles due West of Blundell Park), has been identified as a preferred site and is land owned by North East Lincolnshire Council, who would be partners in the development. The site would see the building of a new 14,000 capacity stadium, as well as an ice rink and other leisure facilties. It is now hoped that as Peaks Parkway has now been named as the preferred site that formal plans can now be drawn up to submit for local consultation and planning permission. The artists impression courtesy of the official Grimsby Town website , shows how the new stadium might look. WHAT IS IT LIKE FOR VISITING SUPPORTERS? Away fans are located in one corner of the Osmond Stand, at one end of the ground, where just under 600 supporters can be accommodated. For teams with a larger following then the whole of the stand can be given to away fans increasing the allocation to 2,200. One downside of this stand is that there are a number of supporting pillars which could impede your view of the game.

Blundell Park is a rather small ground and sometimes gets over criticised by visiting fans. But there is normally always a passionate crowd, which contributes to a good atmosphere. Remember though to wrap up warm as there can be a biting wind coming off the North Sea. Tim Porter a visiting Torquay fan informs me; 'In the right-hand corner of the away end there is a small bar (Scottie's Bar) which was really friendly although it has obviously seen better days - a bit like the bars you get at quite small non-league grounds'. Food on offer inside the ground include a range of Pukka Pies; Steak, Chicken Balti and Cheese and Onion (all £3). Pukka Pasties (£3), Jumbo Sausage Rolls (£2.50), Cheeseburgers (£3.80), Burgers (£3.50) and Jumbo Hot Dogs (£3.50). Whilst Craig Waites a visiting Bradford City fan adds; 'Across the road from the ground is the Blundell Park Hotel which welcomes both home and visiting supporters. Home fans are very friendly both before and after the game.

View from the away end is as you would expect from an old stand in the lower leagues but a good atmosphere can be generated. The snack bar is cheap & the service very quick. Visiting fans are free to enjoy their day, stewards are relaxed & won't say too much when you get excited & stand up. All in all a very enjoyable day out, just how football should be'. PUBS FOR AWAY FANS Inside Blundell Park, away fans are treated to their own bar called Scotties. The bar is of a fair size, has seating, plus it shows Sky Sports television. This is being run by the Mariners Trust, a supporters organisation with has the aim of raising money for the Club. They are asking for any donations of away club memorabilia (scarves, shirts, pennants etc...) to make it a true football bar. So if you have something spare that you can take along then I'm sure it would be appreciated. Please note that entrance to Scotties Bar can only be gained from inside the ground, once you have entered through the away turnstiles. Dave Peasgood recommends the Blundell Park Hotel, which is located just across the road from the ground.

However as you would expect it can get pretty full, so it is advised to arrive early. It also serves some good food at reasonable prices (expect to pay around £5 for a good portion of fish and chips). The Rutland Arms is also recommended for both home and away fans to mingle and also allows in children, however this is some distance from the ground. (it is about half a mile before Blundell Park, turn left at Ramsdens superstore and left again, and you'll see the pub at the opposite end of their car park. If arriving by coach, then from where you will be parked, you should walk away from the ground (keeping the railway track on your right). At the end of this road turn left onto Park Street and reaching the traffic lights on the main Grimsby Road, turn right. At the end of the row of shops there is a gap and you will see the Rutland Arms just setback a little. It is about a 10-15 minute walk. There area also a number of pubs along Cleethorpes sea front but this is around a 20 minute away.

Or arriving by train at Cleethorpes Station, then situated at the Station itself is the No.1 Pub, whilst on the Station Approach is the 'Number 2 Refreshment Room'. Not far from the station on the High Street is a Wetherspoons pub called the Coliseum Picture Theatre. A bit further into the town centre just off the front on Highcliff Road is Willy's Bar which is also featured in the Guide and even brews its own beer.Whilst on Seaview Street is the Nottingham Hotel. All these Cleethorpes Pubs are listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. The Fish and Chips in the area are legendary. Near to the ground there is the Mariners fish and chip shop on Grimsby Road. For the younger fans then there is also a McDonalds situated right outside Blundell Park. CLEETHORPES HOTELS & GUEST HOUSES - FIND & BOOK YOURS & HELP SUPPORT THIS WEBSITE If you require hotel accommodation in the Cleethorpes area then first try a hotel booking service provided by Booking.com . They offer all types of accommodation to suit all tastes and pockets from; Budget Hotels, Traditional Bed & Breakfast establishments to Five Star Hotels and Serviced Apartments.

Plus their booking system is straightforward and easy to use. Yes this site will earn a small commission if you book through them, but it will help towards the running costs of keeping this Guide going. DIRECTIONS AND CAR PARKING First thing to remember is that the ground is not actually in Grimsby, but the neighbouring town of Cleethorpes. The ground is on the A180 which runs between Grimsby & Cleethorpes. Cleethorpes is well signposted from Grimsby town centre. At the end of the M180 continue along the A180 towards Grimsby. After around 14 miles you will near Grimsby town centre. Continue along the A180 following signs for Cleethorpes. On reaching a McDonalds sign on your left and the Blundell Park Hotel on your right, turn left into Imperial Avenue for the Club entrance. There is no car park at the ground, therefore only street parking. As you drive along the A180 towards the ground, the home end appears first, then after the McDonalds is the away end.

There are plenty of side roads off the A180 Grimsby Road mostly before and immediately after Blundell Park and you should find a parking spot okay. I have been advised that the side roads before reaching Blundell Park on the left hand side are the best bet, as after the game you can rather than first driving back up to the main road, follow a back road that runs alongside the railway. When you do this you will eventually reach a T-junction where you turn left to take you up to the main Grimsby Road where you turn right to take you back towards the motorway. Post Code for SAT-NAV: DN35 7PY BY TRAIN Cleethorpes Railway Station is about a mile from the ground and takes around 15-20 minutes to walk. Exit the station and turn right; then turn left onto Station Road. At the end of Station Road turn right onto the High Street. Follow this road down to the roundabout; where you turn right onto the Grimsby road (A180). Continue straight for approximately half a mile and you will see the floodlights of the ground on your right.

Turn right into Neville Street and then left onto Harrington Street; entrance to the Osmond Stand for away fans is on the left. Thanks to Andy Cowling for providing the directions. Nathan Jackson a visiting Lincoln City fan adds; 'Alternatively you can walk to Blundell Park along the sea front. Cleethorpes train station, is located near the sea front, so on leaving the station, turn so that you are facing the sea, and the proceed left along the front. Just keep straight on until you see the ground on your left. Just before the ground there is a foot bridge that goes over the railway. Proceed over the footbridge, turn right and you will find further down on the left in-between some houses the away fans entrance. The walk should take about 15- 20 minutes and is a bit more interesting for supporters, with a number of arcades, chip shops and pubs located along the way. Grimsby Town Railway Station is located around two and a half miles away from Blundell Park and is really too far to walk. There is a taxi rank at the station and if you are looking for a drink then there is a Wetherspoons Pub called the Yarborough Hotel on nearby Bethlehem Street.

A taxi up to the ground will cost around £7. Booking train tickets in advance will normally save you money! Find train times, prices and book tickets with Trainline. Visit the website below to see how much you can save on the price of your tickets: Upper Findus Stand: Adults £20, Concessions £13, Under 15's £5 Lower Findus Stand: Adults £18, Concessions £11, Under 15's £5 Pontoon Stand Adults: £18, Concessions £11, Under 15's £5 Main Stand: Adults: £18, Concessions £11, Under 15's £5 Away Fans* Osmond Stand: Adults: £18, Concessions £11, Under 15's £5 * Please note that the above prices are for tickets purchased before 1.30pm on the day of the game. Tickets bought thereafter can cost up to £2 more per Adult or Concession Ticket (excluding the Upper Findus Stand where no advance purchase discount is given). Please note that concessions apply to Over 65's, Under 19's, Students and the Unemployed.

The cost of Under 15's tickets who are not accompanied by an adult is £7. 31,651 v Wolverhampton Wanderers, FA Cup 5th Round, February 20th, 1937. Modern All Seated Attendance Record 9,528 v Sunderland, March 13th 1999 Average Attendance If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me at: duncan@footballgrounds.net and I'll update the guide. Saturday 31st December 2016, 3pm John Hague (Neutral fan) Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Blundell Park? As an old Sheffield Wednesday fan and a lover of traditional corner floodlight pylons I felt the urge to spend the last day of 2016 by the sea. I have fond memories of Grimsby Town… beating them 1-0 in 1984 almost guaranteed a return to the First Division for The Owls. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking? So easy.

I arrived about 12.30 and sailed down to A180 through Grimsby and in to Cleethorpes. Finding Blundell Park is easy… look for the floodlights like we used to do years ago all over the country. I found a street parking space on Harrington Street for a quick getaway. What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly? I had a plan. Photograph Blundell Park and its floodlights and then walk into Cleethorpes for a pint and some Fish & Chips. I spent that long taking photos that I missed the pint. Well worth noting whilst the chips at the Mariners Fish Bar were excellent the fish was awful and it's probably best avoided these days. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Blundell Park? I just love traditional grounds, not for me the identikit Riversides, and Blundell Park has atmosphere in (buckets and) spades. I just love it. I bought a ticket as high up in the Findus Stand as possible. Who needs unobstructed sight lines? Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

The game, what can I say? Oh yes, Rubbish. I was pleased I was on a mission to photograph the ground, fans and floodlights. There were also a few ships passing on the Humber Estuary in the distance that kept me interested. The home fans in the Pontoon Stand made plenty of noise but hardly any Blackpool fans made an effort. I kind of hoped that as some of their fans were boycotting home games at Bloomfield Road , that they would have made an effort away from home. Getting to the loo or buy a pie in the Findus Stand is nigh on impossible. Probably the worst designed stand in the league… but I still loved it! Comment on getting away from the ground after the game: So easy. I was out of Grimsby in no time thanks to heeding advice on this website about parking on Harrington Street. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out: I had a brilliant day out at Blundell Park despite the football and the fish from the chippy beforehand. Well worth it for the photographs.

Saturday 31st December 2016, 3pm James Sharman (Blackpool fan) Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Blundell Park? This was the first time that I've visited Blundell Park and more festive footy, even if a day out in Grimsby might not be for everyone on New Years Eve! How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking? Easy, M180, A180 and follow the road towards Cleethorpes. The tall floodlights of Blundell Park assist in locating the ground too. We parked on the main road to the ground. There are no time limits on parking as confirmed by a friendly local shopkeeper. It helped though that we got there early, I could imagine parking is troublesome if close to kick off time, as parking in nearby side streets looked pretty tight. What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly? We went to the trusty McDonalds, which is literally just outside Blundell Park. Plenty of other refreshments on offer including a busy looking fish and chip shop also on the main road about 100 yards from the McDonalds.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Blundell Park? Blundell Park is very much and old fashioned looking ground, much different to modern stadia. Where away fans enter the stadium, it takes you along the back of the old Main Stand, which is a real throwback. If you're a stadium buff like me, then it's great to see an old style ground still surviving. The away end was fine, not a deep rake with the seats. Our other main observation was how the pitch wasn't level in front of the goal, very quirky. I was impressed with the Findus Stand, located opposite the Main Stand. It's imposing and looks like it would be cold for spectators sitting at the top if the weather was inclement. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc.. It was a good game, a real tight 0-0 although Blackpool were denied a stonewall penalty (and yes I am slightly biased!). The atmosphere good and very friendly stewards. We found ourselves situated on the back row, they even allowed us to stand up. There was a quirky old bar in the corner of away stand which served beer.

It had memorabilia on display from other clubs and Sky Television. Again it was not the most modern, but serves its purpose and was very welcoming which is the main thing. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game: No issues considering crowd was over 5,000 although we'd read a previous ground review and parked on the A180 side which made things easier. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out: After a slightly strange start, where a local on a surrounding street chastised us with choice language for not stopping his runaway dog for him! The day at Blundell Park got much better and other fans were very friendly. Typical festive League Two game and atmosphere, we thoroughly enjoyed it. As for the stonewall penalty, well...! Saturday 10th December 2016, 3pm Richard Simons (Portsmouth fan) Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Blundell Park? I had not visited Blundell Park since the last time both of us were in the Championship League in 2002. I was pleased that Grimsby got promoted so I could revisit. Also it was a first visit to Blundell Park for my son.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking? We are Pompey fans living in Norwich so a quick drive to Kings Lynn before taking the A17 and then A16 to Cleethorpes. We arrived about one o clock and found some street parking on the opposite side of the ground. What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly? Went to the McDonald's situated about two minutes from the stadium.When spotting my son's Pompey scarf three different home fans approached us to ask about our journey and chat about our two teams. A refreshing change to some grounds I have been to. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Blundell Park? To be honest not much had changed since my last visit. The away end was fine, having a low roof which can help amplify the noise of the fans. The other sides of the stadium seemed okay as well. There was a nice two tier stand to the left of us which I have been told has stunning views of the Humber estuary beyond the ground, if you are in the upper tier. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

The game itself was far from a classic but to see Pompey get a late winner made up for it.Atmosphere was excellent from the travelling hordes. The home fans behind the other goal were noisy as well. Stewards were friendly, chatty and one wished us a safe journey back which was a nice touch.The half time hot dogs were very tasty and the staff serving were very friendly too. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game: It took about 15-20 minutes to get away from the ground, but this is to be expected as most of the area is street parking. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out: I really enjoyed Blundell Park .Made better by a late winner and also the friendliness of the Grimsby fans who we spoke to. We will definitely visit again. Grimsby Town v Crewe Alexandra Football League Two Saturday 17th September 2016, 3pm Rob Dodd (Doing the 92) Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Blundell Park? I was glad that Grimsby Town had returned to the Football League after spending six years away, as I had not managed to visit Blundell Park before relegation.

Also, I've always had a soft spot for The Mariners since Liverpool played them in the FA Cup in early the1980's. Grimsby brought a huge following to Anfield and The Kop were on top form that day. The Mariners were "battered" 5-0 by a team including Fillet (Phil) Thompson, Jimmy Plaice (Case), Terry Mackerel (McDermott), Phil Eel (Neal) and other "fish" that I can't remember. Grimsby had their revenge twenty years later, knocking us out of the League Cup at Anfield! How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking? I drove and it was really easy as the ground is on the A180, just into Cleethorpes. It's street parking so if approaching with the ground on your left, park before the ground in a street on the right hand side of the A180, as it's much easier to access the main road again on departure. What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly? Given Grimsby's fishing history, a visit to a local chippy is a must and I wasn't disappointed.

I then had a pint in the Blundell Park Hotel, which is located opposite the ground. I had no issues with the locals, who only gave me cause for concern when they started to don Parkas, gloves and bobble hats and it is only the middle of September! What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Blundell Park? Externally, Blundell Park has seen better days. Internally, it's a lot easier on the eye. As a neutral I sat in the Young's Upper Stand and the four "mature" chaps sitting to my right were dressed for the Arctic, two of them had even brought rugs! There are open corners and when the wind got up, it was biting. Goodness knows what it's like in January or February! However, it's a good place for ship spotting! Of course, plans are afoot for a new stadium but, as one Grimsby supporter succinctly put it: "I'll believe it when I see it". Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc.. Crewe deservedly won 2-0 and missed a penalty as well.

Grimsby just couldn't get going, which was disappointing considering their recent results. The locals I spoke to weren't at all happy but conceded that the Mariners had been simply outplayed. Crewe were impressive and played two very experienced players up front, Lowe and Dagnall, who caused the Town defenders no end of trouble. I reckon Crewe will be challenging for promotion at the end of the season. Consequently, the atmosphere was muted. I didn't test the facilities. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game: The getaway was reasonably easy but I was glad I parked where I did as it looked very busy nearer the ground. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out: I enjoyed my day at Blundell Park, even in the knowledge that, at some stage in the future, I may have to retrace my steps to take in the new stadium. In any case, I really hope Grimsby Town consolidate their position in the League. Saturday 27th August 2016, 3pm James Walker (Stevenage fan) Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Blundell Park? It's difficult to say whether I was looking forward to this game or not.

On one hand it was a new ground for me to tick off the list and another away day with Stevenage, but on the other hand we were coming in to this on the back of a heavy loss in the Football League Cup to Stoke. Plus I have heard nothing but horror stories about Grimsby in general (the film certainly didn't help the image of the place!). Still I had to make the trip to see the place for myself. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking? Getting there was easy as I took the supporters coach as usual. An early departure of 08:45 saw us pull up outside Blundell Park for 12pm. We pulled up on a side road roughly 100 yards from the away turnstiles. What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly? A helpful steward told us that the harbour was a 30 minute walk away in one direction and the beach was a similar distance in the other direction. Whilst most of our group went to the beach, me and a couple of friends who didn't fancy the walk crossed the road to a small cafe that had a pool table costing just 40p per game, bargain!

After playing a few games we started to seek food. Normally we would just eat in the cafe but it would be wrong to go to Grimsby and not try out the fish! With this thought, we crossed the road again and went to the chippy for a large cod and chips, costing £4.80 and they were absolutely delicious! What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Blundell Park? From the outside, Blundell Park isn't that appealing at all but the inside it is lovely! The away end is a very spacious two-tiered stand, and curves around onto the stand on our right, which is a single-tiered stand running the length of the pitch. This stand is where the away disabled fans sit. The far stand is similar to the away end, except it looks like a single-tiered stand. The stand to our left is a big two-tiered stand and only covers the middle section of the pitch. There is a large score screen in the corner of this stand and the away end, which is viable to all supporters home and away.

Please note there are several pillars in the away end which can block the views for the fans, and the stewards are the type who love to enforce seating at all times for away fans. Our View Of Blundell Park Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc.. The game itself for Stevenage was a disaster. We were awful for the first half and went 2-0 down just before the break, but somehow got a goal back in injury time and even had a chance to equalise before the whistle went! Just after half time we collapsed, as Grimsby went from 2-1 up to 4-1 up in two minutes after the break. Jobi McAnuff scored a tap-in for us midway through the half before Omar Bogle sealed his hat trick in stoppage time with a stunning free-kick. Most of the stewards were a pleasure to chat to, and they gave up trying to enforce seating for the away fans after a few minutes and were happy to let the supporters in the back rows in the centre stand, and were happy to let us have the drums throughout the game to try and create some atmosphere. The half time pies were also delicious and the price was the standard £3.

However I have to mention the away fans bar, which is a big bar inside the away end selling numerous beers and soft drinks. One very unusual thing they have is if you donate a shirt, scarf or flag of your teams colours and you get a free bottle or pint. There were numerous scarves attached to the walls and roof, including Kidderminster, Oxford, Luton, Alfreton and many other clubs. There is also an official photographer who goes around the away end (including the stand and bar) taking pictures of away fans enjoying the day out and all get uploaded to Facebook page @AwayDaysAtBP. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game: Getting away was complicated as the steward directed us the wrong way out of the ground, meaning we came out along with the home fans (quickly removing colours to avoid any banterous jibes!) and having to walk right around from one end of the ground to the other just as the rain started! Thankfully we legged it back to the coach without getting too wet and began the long sorry trip back to Stevenage, arriving back around 8.30pm.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out: Overall it's safe to say the day wasn't great due to the football but certain aspects made up for it! Lovely fish and chips, cheap pool and very good treatment of away fans, which always makes a refreshing change! If we are still in the same division next season I won't hesitate to return, but hopefully the game will be a better one from our point of view! Half Time Score: Grimsby Town 2 Stevenage 1 Full Time Result: Grimsby Town 5 Stevenage 2 Attendance: 4,425 (140 away fans). Grimsby Town v Oxford United FA Cup 1st Round Saturday November 8th 2014, 3pm Rob Pickett (Oxford United fan) 1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be): As an Oxford United exiled in Sheffield, I do not get that many games in. I also have not been to the Grimsby ground for over 20 years, so this was a no brainer to attend on a cold November day.

Oxford were struggling for form, while Grimsby were on a great run in the conference. 2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking? We took the train from Sheffield to Cleethorpes. In the middle of winter, Cleethorpes virtually closes down and becomes somewhat of a desolate place. From the station we walked along the sea front to get to the ground, eerie and messy. But it was straightforward enough to find Blundell Park. 3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly? Being at the seaside we availed ourselves to a "sit down" meal of fish and chips. Although most of Cleethorpes seemed to be closed for the winter, a few of these places in town were still open. Food was fine, though a bit pricey. But the girls in the café who served us at least had a smile on their faces. 4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides? Blundell Park is surrounded by terraced housing. This means it is a bit tight to get away after the game if you have travelled by car. I have to say that for a current conference ground, it looked quite impressive.

The attendance also looked healthy on the day. 5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc.. It was a good game, with Oxford running out 3-1 winners, with our teenage striker, Roberts, bagging a brace. There was also plenty of atmosphere at the match. Beforehand I visited the away supporters bar, which was basic/quaint, but civilised. Nice touch was plenty of away fan memorabilia. Not really impressed with stewards. I needed to catch train (30-mins walk) so wanted to leave 5-mins early. They tried to direct me along the sea front in pitch dark. Not necessary, so arced round and walked through the town. 6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game: See previous point, but if walking back to the railway station, make sure you are brisk. Cars in the area looked like they would be stuck for 20-minutes or so. 7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out: A real experience overall! It would be good to see a game at Grimsby early or late season when the weather is better and Cleethorpes is fully "open".

Grimsby Town v Dover Athletic Conference Premier League Saturday, August 16th, 2014, 3pm Andy Fisher (Dover Athletic fan) 1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be): Dover have not played at this level for twelve long years, so there are a number of Clubs who we have never played at all, or haven't for quite a while. On of these clubs is Grimsby Town, who having played for many years in the Footbal League, had up until now never played Dover. It was an opportunity to visit this famous old ground, although with Dover losing the first two opening games of the season (and not scoring a goal either) I wasn't too confident of getting a positive result. Still a slight glimmer of hope, was the fact that Grimsby had failed to find the net too in their opening two matches 2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking? As I run the supporters club coach that was all taken care of , however on arrival at the ground we were dropped off at one end and had to do a full circuit on foot to the other side of the ground.

We finally arrived at the away turnstiles only to be told that concessions need to purchase tickets from the office that we passed a few minutes earlier. 3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly? All our coach travelers used the away bar inside the ground, which served bitter and lager and with the option of having a two pint glass. However the 'glass' was in fact plastic, which made it difficult to pick up with one hand, but a few of us had one, even if it was just for the novelty factor. The bar had shirts and scarves from other visiting fans on the walls which was a nice touch. It's a shame I did not know beforehand as I could have brought one of my old shirts with me, to add to the collection. The lady in the bar was really friendly and made us feel very welcome. The Two Pinter! 4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground? First impressions on seeing the stadium was that it was an old fashioned type, but in essence a "Real" football ground full of character, something you don't find at modern stadiums. 5.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc.. We brought about a hundred supporters in a crowd of 3,548 but surprisingly we out sung them for most of the game. We were segregated in the corner to the right of the goal which is good in a way as only having a small number of fans at least we were all together. The game was fairly uneventful, until the 74th minute, when Grimsby took the lead. However Dover fought their way back into the match, equalising four minutes from the end. In fact Dover could have snatched all three points, missing a penalty in the 90th minute. But that said a draw was probably a fair result and at least we had our first point on the board. The only strange thing was having the segregated away fans housed next to the home family stand, not though there were any problems. 6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game: Leaving the ground was a bit bizarre. Although we did not have to walk back round the stadium to find our coach, it was parked at the end where a lot of the home supporters were dispersing, again not really an issue for us but strange nonetheless. 7.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out: Apart from the the slight faffing around on our arrival re coach drop-off/Tickets , it was an enjoyable day out. Grimsby Town v Mansfield Town Conference Premier League Monday 27th August 2012, 3pm Jeff Beastall (Mansfield Town fan) 1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be): Mixed feelings really. Stags have been hyped somewhat as favorites to do well this season and in previous years this self same fixture has been played in the depths of winter on a cold damp Tuesday or Friday night. Last year we capitulated and lost badly with shocking 7-2 defeat here so we were looking for a turn of fortune and a better day out - for a change! 2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking? We've been here before and the ground is easy to find on the A180. Unfortunately for us we didn't leave Mansfielduntil almost 1 pm and with an 80 odd mile journey do in a mini bus, the timing was always going to be tight.

Fortunately we made good time and were allowed to park with the other away supporters' buses at the back of the ground - thanks to a kindly steward who tweaked the area the Police had coned off for getting their horses out of their transporter! 3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly? Hobsons Choice for a pint was the Imperial at the end of Blundell Avenue as there wasn't time for much else of a customer survey. A warm welcome was promised and Carling Extra cold at £2.30 seemed a deal albeit in the obligatory plastic pot. This is a huge pub with only about a third of itspotential bar space being used and the majority of mainly home supporters had spilled out into the car park in the hope of developing hypothermia. Didn't see any food outlet on site. Perhaps they cite the old security chestnut as being an issue although I do recall as similar set up at Oxford FC when we played them and yes, they did have discreet security - but they welcomed everyone and most probably took a small fortune on the day. I wasn't in colours so I just ventured in and out with question or comment and minded my own business. 4.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground? A virtual coliseum of asbestos and crinkly tin; the ideal venue for a film maker hoping to do a grim sixties football movie and who doesn't have a lot of cash to spend on a set. Queued for a concession as I am a mature student but they don't do concessions for students, only the young and the old. Are there no students in Grimsby or is everyone on such a fantastic income that they can all afford the full £18? Last time we came here they tried to corral us into a small corner of the Osmond Stand but this time left us away fans to sit where we liked. A magnanimous gesture indeed. 5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc.. The game was OK, a game of 3 halves and despite us losing yet once again and going down to 10 men shortly before the final whistle, it was almost a relief when the ref did the decent thing and eventually put the game to death. Stewarding was surprisingly OK, facilities no change since last time Henry Kissinger was here. But the catering, oh man, the catering.

Not so much as deserving a cordon bleu, more like worthy of imposing a cordon off. Service was slow and the teams were about to come back on when I eventually got to the front of the queue. Chap in front of me orders a chicken pie, I order a hot chocolate. £1.80 she says to me, despite a colorful menu on the side of the bar clearly stating it to be £1.50. When I point this out, she snaps back "don't ask me luv. I don't fix the prices, I just serve here." Sorree. The chocolate is lukewarm and with made with a sufficiently miniscule amount - almost a wrap - of chocolate to barely colour the water. The trade descriptions act is clearly not recognised here then and the point is not lost on me that just five minutes away outside the ground I can pay an extra 50p and have a pint of lager instead - albeit in the obligatory plastic pot! Meanwhile Pie Man has returned to the counter. "Its cold" he says. I await the kiosk attendants return killer serve of quit wit and innuendo but it doesn't come.

Instead 3 of them gather round the pie and insert temperature probes into it from various directions - it looks almost painful -presumably looking for a hot spot or even signs of life. There isn't any. "I can do you a Balti!" she yells from the operating theatre. 6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game: Mercifully quick 7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out: If this day out had been a stick of Cleethorpes rock, you could have broken it anywhere along its length and it would have revealed [something crude and nasty] written all they way through it. Saturday 26th March 2011, 1pm Scot Rowland (Tamworth fan) 1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be): I was looking forward to visiting Blundell Park, firstly as it's got bags full of character unlike some of the ex-League sides in the BSBP, and the fact I live in Lincoln meant a relatively short trip up to Cleethorpes. And secondly Blundell Park is also a ground I had been yet to visit. 2.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking: Travelling by train the journey was easy enough. And I caught the 10:23 from Lincoln with a change at Barnetby for the connection to Cleethorpes. The ground is very easy to find taking either of the routes supplied by Duncan in the guide. On both its a straight walk to the ground and the tall floodlights are clearly visible from quite a distance away. 3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly? Before the game I opted to have a few drinks in Lincoln with the game being a 1pm kick off due to England facing Wales. But arriving in Cleethorpes at 12pm I managed enough time to take in a pint at O'Neills, which is visible after you come out of the main entrance of Cleethorpes Station. Which is a spacious, well priced pub and perfect for a quick pint before the game. And the Blundell Park Hotel, directly opposite the ground, although it was very busy and quite small so was crammed to the rafters with Grimsby Fans.

Didn't really speak to any Mariners fans but had no problems collecting my tickets from the ticket office in my Tamworth shirt. 4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground? Blundell Park, is vastly showing it's age now which is a real shame, but is fantastic for fans of old styled football grounds, made up of lots of old cladding. I did think the ground is quite intimidating, being very dark and dull from the outside with lots of barbed wire. As is the same with the Osmond Stand which houses the away supporters, looks very unappealing from the back with loads of rusty metal supports protruding from the back of it. The Osmond Stand is set quite far back and has a low roof so fans could miss out on the action if seated in the back rows. And the supporting pillars for this stand are a pain, but not too obtrusive. The rest of the stadium consists of the two tiered Findus Stand which stands high above the other stands which are equal in height and straddles the half way line, with a row of VIP boxes running through it.

Adjacent to this is the main stand which is a very ramshackled stand and has a lots of pillars running along the front of it. Then opposite the away stand is the Pontoon Stand which in comparison to the rest of the ground looks quite new and a tidy little stand. 5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc.. The game was a classic game of two halves. Tamworth struggled in the first half and Grimsby did all the running and deseverdly went in at half time up. The second half started much as the first had gone and The Mariners went up. Tamworth then finally started to come into the game and pulled a goal back through Kale Perry then the Tamworth pressure told and Tom Marshall smashed in the equalizer. A draw was probably a fair result in the end. The atmosphere from both sets of fans was good, but as Tamworth started to come into the game, the Grimsby fans clearly were becoming frustrated with their side. The stewards were hardly noticeable throughout and just pretty much left us to it, which lead to a very relaxed atmosphere.

Also Grimsby have changed the turnstiles away supporters enter through so instead of being at the back of the ground they now use the turnstiles the the left of the Findus Stand, but a friendly steward was kind enough to walk me through after I approached the wrong turnstile. 6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game: Getting away from the ground was fine on foot although I can imagine that it's difficult due to the volume of cars and fans as it's quite hectic around the stadium at full time. 7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out: I had heard some negative stories about going to Blundell Park, but I found them completely unfounded, and I found it to be a great day out and had no problems at all. Good result for Tamworth after a bad run of form. I'd happily visit again although would hope for nicer weather in fear of braving the biting wind from the sea. Grimsby Town v Torquay United League Two Saturday 17th April 2010, 3pm Mark Horler (Torquay United fan) 1.

Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be): With Torquay United back in the football league, it was no surprise that as we were half way through April, the Gulls league status was still not secure. Today was quite simple, if we won at Grimsby, we stayed up...and they were as good as doomed. 2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking? Another long journey from Devon and another 7am start. Just 3 of us made the journey this time in our car. The journey was relatively straight forward considering it was from the South West to the North East. As we approached Grimsby it was no doubt the hottest day of the year and the town was packed with day trippers braving the North Sea. The seaside can be easily walked to from the ground and with traditional floodlights it would have been easy to spot, even without a sat nav to guide us. 3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly? We went to Cleethorpes seafront.

The town had quite a hostile atmosphere, possibly due to the importance of the match, lots of quite nasty comments, lots of bad language, but at 1pm we were having lunch in McDonalds (right by the ground) and only had friendly comments from the home support eating there. 4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground? A very 4th division style ground, more 1970's cladding, than glass, large gates and 1970's style offices are what you would expect. Ensure you pop around the back of the ground (ask for where the away team coach arrives) to experience what is basically a wooden shack as an entrance, probably much loved for historical reasons, but blimey it brings you back to the 1970's. Here is where we met several Grimsby Town "anoraks" good true football people, the ones who wait for hours to get some 4th division left back's autograph and the sort who can tell you more about your team and where they have played than you can! The away fans were situated at one end of the ground behind the goal.

There were only around 300 Torquay fans there, so no one had an obstructed view, which is quite possible at the back of the seated enclosure. The ground is old with little recent investment, the main stand is especially high for a 4th division ground and this dominates the stadium. One point to remember is that to get concession tickets you need to buy them from the club shop before the match...so there was my lad in a bright yellow shirt stood in a queue of black and white Grimsby fans...blimey did he stand out! 5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc.. Torquay were playing well and confidence was high. Grimsby had also picked up form and their fans were quite surprisingly un-supportive in the circumstances, constantly moaning and shouting at every mistake....this was more noticeable at this ground than any other club I have been to this season. Our fans sang, their fans stood and watched. Half Time 0-0 nothing happened in a very tense 45 minutes. The 2nd half started well and continued with a show of attacking football from the Torquay United team resulting in a deserved 3-0 victory.

We sang "ooooarrrr its a massacre" and their fans got annoyed.....very annoyed. At the final whistle a 100 to 150 chavs ran across the pitch at the Torquay fans and were probably disappointed that the Gulls fans could only respond by waving their walking sticks in response! The stewards were fantastic throughout, even forming a cordon across the pitch to protect the Gulls fans...the police, as is often the case at football, were nothing short of useless, just filming and talking together....I even saw several laughing. Not one Grimsby fan was arrested....so you can imagine how we felt when we saw similar pictures on telly last week as Barnet fans were given the same treatment. 6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game: Obviously with the problems inside the ground, it was shirts off, west country accents muted....but how can you possibly change from looking like a farmer to looking like a chav! or an ASBO. Several Torquay fans were obviously quite concerned and as we came down the side road to join the main street....the police were of course totally absent! We just ignored the threats and got in the car and all was well. 7.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out: A brilliant day and a really important 3rd away win of the season. It was even better that our old friends from Bristol City had lost 3.0 at Scunthorpe on the same day, so the journey back was a happy one! Grimsby is in all honesty an unfriendly place to go. It is a deprived area, so just be careful when out and about in the town....would I return...absolutely. Grimsby Town v Northampton Town League Two Friday 2nd April 2010, 7.45pm Tyler Jason (Northampton Town fan) 1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be): I was looking forward to the game, as Northampton were a point outside the play offs and Grimsby second bottom, in the business end of the season. Easy game? Sounds it. Also our away form which consisted of 6 wins and a draw made the trip more tempting, and as Grimsby was also going to be a new ground for me. 2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

Journey From Northampton was easy (as ever) Up the M1 then the M180 past Sheffield and Scunthorpe. For a Friday bank holiday it was surprisingly easy getting there, with no hold ups or delays and we were there by 6.30pm. 3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly? After getting parked up, we decided that being in Grimsby, fish and chips was really the only option. We went to 'Mariners Fish an Chips' a few corners away from the McDonalds by the ground. 1 of our little clan was served and got his food, whilst the other 2 had to wait 20 mins to get their orders. Not being keen on fish I opted for McDonalds, which understandably was full of Grimsby fans 4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground? First impression of the ground was that it looke very old, rickety and not somewhere you'd want to get lost around, Probably epitomised by the sign saying WELCOME TO THE FAMILY STAND, with hoards of rusty barbed wire above it.

The away end is quite big, but with the low roof and me being 6ft 4, i had to crouch low to see the whole pitch as I could only see the halfway line standing up 5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc.. Game itself wasn't anything special. Northampton were under some early pressure but was relieved when Liam Davis scored to put us 1-0 up. Both teams had a few chances but Grimsby equalised just before half time with a good goal. Grimsby had a player sent off about 10 minutes into the second half for an elbow. Was 50/50 as to whether it was a red card as it wasn't exactly intentional. Northampton used the advantage to their advantage as Adebayo Akinfenwa headed home after 68 minutes to win it for Northampton. Grimsby had a late penalty shout turned down so it was 3 points for the Cobblers play off push. Didn't have any food inside the ground so can't comment on that. The toilets were like that of an old pub, not very big so if you have a large following, could be a bit of a squeeze.

The annoying thing with Grimsby was unless you're an adult, you have to go to the ticket office for a ticket. When i got there and asked for a junior and said i was 15, i was told my ticket is £12 as opposed to the advertised £8 because apparently juniors only run up to 14 years old. Answers on a postcard. 6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game: Getting away from the ground wasnt so difficult as we walked around Cleethorpes looking for a pub which would admit 15 year olds. That plan failed so we eventually set off about 10.30 and back to Northampton by 1am. 7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out: Good day out and a decent win to boot. I'd imagine however if you were stuck in traffic all the way there it'd be the journey from hell but we were lucky there. Pretty good day but with things like tickets and ground, I wouldnt be in a mad rush to go back.

Question: What is the nickname of Grimsby Town
Answer: The Mariners